?parents in dilemma as abductors demand N100m ransom

The eight students, who were kidnapped on their way to write the West African Senior School Certificate Examination in Bille Degema Local Government Area of Rivers, are still languishing in a pirates? den about 20 days after the incident that occurred on May 6.

The students were among the 13 passengers seized by kidnappers along the waterways.

They were whisked away after the hoodlums hijacked two passenger boats in a daring attack that had devastated the parents of the students.

The victims? parents were said to be more confused after the kidnappers reportedly demanded N100m to release the students.

The immediate past Youth President of Bille Kingdom, Dr Osaki Miller, who confirmed the development said there was no way the patents could raise such money.

Miller said the parents were particularly worried about their safety and health conditions, adding that many of them had continued to shed tears over the incident.

He said, ?As we speak now, their whereabouts is still unknow. And now we were made to understand that they were asking for N100 million for their release.

?This is so worrisome, we must confess because the parents of these persons who were kidnapped are very depressed and crying daily for their loved ones.

?As I speak, most of them are even students going to write their WASSEC. Imagine the students being absent from the WASSCE this year, how depressing it can be?.

Miller appealed to the State Sole Administrator, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rted), to help rescue the captives.

He said, ?So we are pleading with the Government. We have made complaints to the various quarters, the security agencies, the government, and we have even carried out protests to notify even the government house.

?But up till now we have not heard from anybody. So, we are pleading, whatever it is, we are calling on the State Sole Administrator to swing into action. Thank God he is an ex-military man. This is our plea so that these will come out and unite with their loved ones.?.

A former Chairman of Bille Community, Fibite Bibi, however, said that one ofnthe victims, a uniformed security man, was set free last Friday.

He said, ?They released a uniform man who was kidnapped alongside the students last Friday. We don?t know whether ransom was paid.

?But right now, they are demanding N100 million from the students and the Bille people who were kidnapped. Where will the money come from?

?We don?t have the money. The security agencies should do what they are supposed to do and rescue these people for us because they are suffering.

?Nobody has that kind of money to give to them. So, they should please release them. The security agencies should please take the necessary action.

?The Sole Administrator should order his men to go there because these boys (students) are just there suffering ?.

Aggrieved women of the Bille community had once marched to the Government House in Port Harcourt to protest the abduction of their children.

The protesters, who were dressed in black, under the auspices of Concerned People of Bille Kingdom, carried many placards and sang in solidarity to draw the attention of the authorities to their plight.

The placards bore messages such as, ?Government save us from sea pirates?, ?Our children going to write WAEC are with the pirates in the bush, some have been raped?, Bille people are suffering in the hands of pirates?, among others.

Some of the women lamented that armed pirates also raped their daughters and stole their belongings.

An elderly woman among them cried bitterly, lying on the ground and pleading with the Sole Administrator to locate the hoodlums and rescue their children.

?Government, please help me My son is inside the River (creek). Sea pirates took him inside the bush. Government, please help me bring my son, don?t leave me like this?, she cried.

A lady, who identified herself as Blessing Alale lamented incessant pirate attacks along the waterways.

She recalled that her mother and seven others travelling the same route were kidnapped and forced to pay millions of Naira as ransom before they were freed.

She said: ?Sometime ago, my mum was a victim. On that day, eight of them were abducted, and a ransom of N30 million was paid. After the N30 million they requested we buy fuel (petrol), power banks, bread and water before they will release them.

?We paid all that before they were out. That was then. Now, this one on the 6th of this month, our children were going to write WAEC in Bille, sea pirates abducted them. How will they attack children who were going to school to write their WAEC, about eight of them?

?The other time, they will say they are adults, but these are children going to write WAEC. Their siblings are writing the exam. So, it means that these children have missed out on all the papers that have been written.

?That is why the women, the mothers, are here, I?m also a mother have come out to say enough is enough. These mothers of the abducted one and the entire mothers of Bill are here seeking help so that these children will be released to join the others.?

In her address, one of the leaders of the protest, Janet Adokiye Adebayo, said: ?On 6th May 2025, along the Port Harcourt ?Bille Waterways, a speedboat carrying 13 passengers was intercepted by heavily armed pirates who diverted them into the creeks.

?Since then, all abducted persons remain missing, leaving their families in a state of deep distress and uncertainty.

?This tragic incident marks yet another escalation in the persistent security threats along our waterways and endangers the lives of commuters and the socio-economic stability of Riverine communities, especially Bille Kingdom in particular.

?In the light of this, this is an urgent appeal for intervention in the activities of sea pirates and formal submission to the Rivers State Government. We humbly appeal to the Nigerian Police, the Army and the Navy for urgent intervention by deploying patrol units to intensify surveillance and rescue operations.

?Additionally, we request your support in working with relevant security agencies to ensure the safe release of the kidnapped victims and prevent further attacks.?

The Camp Commandant, Rivers State Government House, O.I Gabriel, who addressed the women, commended them for their peaceful disposition and assured that actions would be taken immediately.

Gabriel said: ?The Sole Administrator gave instructions to the Chief of Staff, and the Chief of Staff now instructed me, as the Camp Commandant, to come and address you. And that I should collect the letter from you for immediate action to be taken in respect of the letter?.

But since the promise was made, the Bille stakeholders expressed disappointment that nothing tangible had been done to rescue the children.

The Spokesperson of the State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said the police were making efforts to release them and apprehend the suspects. (The Nation)

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